David Hasselhoff: swimwear icon

How to channel your inner 'Hoff' on the beach this summer - in a good way.

BY David Nicholls |
07 July 2011

There are some men who are so magnificently stylish that mere mortals will feel compelled to try, but invariably fail, to emulate them. David Hasselhoff is not one of these men, but he did rather 'own' men's swimwear for eleven glorious years of Baywatch.

As Mitch Buchannon, Hasselhoff favoured a pair of classic red trunks with an elasticated waist, cleverly accessorized with a lifeguard's bouy to discretely camouflage his paunch. While short enough to excite suburban mums, they were voluminous and sexless enough to keep their husbands from feeling threatened.

There are infinitely better options on the market today.

That said, I didn't see many of them while I was on holiday on the Amalfi Coast recently. Rather against the odds, the Italian men on the beaches of Positano and the surrounding area lived up to precisely none of the stereotypes of sartorial excellence.

The key trend for beachwear there was the wearing cotton underpants underneath their board shorts which were worn low-slung like a pair of jeans. It looked even worse when wet and is something that should be avoided at all costs.

This summer it's all about the swimmng short, by which I mean something in between a pair of budgie smugglers and a to-the-knee board short. Mid-thigh is a good length and one that can work for guys with Twiglet or Wotsit variety legs.

The posher versions have smart details like tailored side pockets, zips and button fasteners. There are prints galore too, by the likes of Giles Deacon for Chucs Dive Shop, Alan Aldridge for Orlebar Brown and Cassette Playa for Topman.